(horticulture) the hard mass of roots and earth removed with the rest of the plant during transplanting

12.

(Austral) ball of muscle, a very strong, fit, or forceful person

13.

have the ball at one's feet, to have the chance of doing something

14.

keep the ball rolling, to maintain the progress of a project, plan, etc

15.

(informal) on the ball, alert; informed

16.

(informal) play ball, to cooperate

17.

set the ball rolling, start the ball rolling, to open or initiate (an action, discussion, movement, etc)

18.

the ball is in your court, you are obliged to make the next move

verb

19.

(transitive) to make, form, wind, etc, into a ball or balls: to ball wool

20.

(intransitive) to gather into a ball or balls

21.

(taboo, slang, mainly US) to copulate (with)

Usage note

Sense 9 of this word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary. However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use

Word Origin

C13: from Old Norse böllr; related to Old High German balla, Italian palla French balle

ball2

/bɔːl/

noun

1.

a social function for dancing, esp one that is lavish or formal

2.

(informal) a very enjoyable time (esp in the phrase have a ball)

Word Origin

C17: from French bal (n), from Old French baller (vb), from Late Latin ballāre to dance, from Greek ballizein

Ball

/bɔːl/

noun

1.

John. died 1381, English priest: executed as one of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt (1381)

ball

n.

"round object," Old English *beal, from or corresponding to Old Norse bollr "ball," from Proto-Germanic *balluz (cf. Old High German ballo, German Ball), from PIE root *bhel- (2) "to blow, inflate, swell" (see bole).

Meaning "testicle" is from early 14c. Ball of the foot is from mid-14c. A ball as an object in a sports game is recorded from c.1200; To have the ball "hold the advantage" is from c.1400. To be on the ball is 1912, from sports. Ball-point pen first recorded 1946. Ball of fire when first recorded in 1821 referred to "a glass of brandy;" as "spectacularly successful striver" it is c.1900.

1650s, "make into a ball," from ball (n.1). Sense of "to become like a ball" is 1713; that of "to copulate" is first recorded 1940s in jazz slang, either from the noun sense of "testicle" or "enjoyable time" (from ball (n.2)). Related: Balled; balling.